Sources Sought Special Notice 2026
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) has issued a Sources Sought Special Notice to identify potential partners for upcoming competitive proposals in response to NASA Announcements of Opportunity (AOs), Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs), Missions of Opportunity (MoOs), and calls from other government agencies (e.g., NSF, NIH). ARC is seeking collaborators for science investigations, research activities, technology development, and the provision of flight hardware. Responses are encouraged at any time, with an official response date of January 1, 2027.
Scope of Interest
ARC is interested in partners who can contribute to a wide range of NASA AOs, including those from the New Frontiers, Discovery, SIMPLEx, and Explorers Programs, as well as Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES). Specific interest areas for ROSES 2026 (NNH26ZDA001N) include Earth Sciences, Heliophysics, Astrophysics (e.g., Pioneers), Space Biology, Instruments (e.g., Life Detection), Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (PRISM), Planetary Instrument Concepts for the Advancement of Solar System Observations (PICASSO), Maturation of Instruments for Solar System Exploration (MATISSE), and Development and Advancement of Lunar Instruments (DALI).
Partnership areas include:
- Spacecraft systems: Bus and/or subsystems, integration and test (I&T) capabilities.
- Payload, instrumentation, or subsystems: Including drills, excavators, probes, and sample transfer systems.
- Payload delivery capability: For planetary surfaces (Moon, Mars), including entry, descent, and landing.
- Scientific concepts, Technology Demonstration concepts, or Mission Architecture: Related to specific solicitations.
- Integration with Launch Services: Secondary launch systems and dispensing systems.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Sources Sought / Special Notice (Market Research)
- Set-Aside: None specified
- Response Due: January 1, 2027 (responses accepted at any time)
- Published: January 7, 2026
- Product Service Code: AR12 (Space R&D Services; Space Flight, Research And Supporting Activities; Applied Research)
Evaluation
Responses will be evaluated based on alignment with NASA's goals, compliance with announcement requirements, feasibility, suitability, and complementarity with Ames' interests and capabilities. Key criteria include the ability to work in government-industry teams, innovative technical and partnering approaches, and a history of delivering spacecraft, payloads, or instruments with proven technical and cost performance.
Response Requirements
Responses should be brief (max 10 pages per proposed partnership, Arial 12pt font) and submitted in PDF format via email to ARC-Sources-Sought@mail.nasa.gov. The subject line must include the synopsis number and company name. Commercial firms must also provide business size, employee count, average annual revenue, ownership details, and affiliate information. This notice is for planning purposes only and is not a commitment by the Government.